SRA endorse the Recommendations of the Tripartite Cluster for Retail Industry (TCR) for successful implementation of the Progressive Wage Model (PWM) for Retail on 1 September 2022
August 15, 2022*MEDIA STATEMENT *
𝗦𝗥𝗔 𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗢𝗥𝗦𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 𝗢𝗙 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗜𝗧𝗘 𝗖𝗟𝗨𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗥𝗘𝗧𝗔𝗜𝗟 𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗨𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗬 (𝗧𝗖𝗥) 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗦𝗨𝗖𝗖𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗙𝗨𝗟 𝗜𝗠𝗣𝗟𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗢𝗙 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗚𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗪𝗔𝗚𝗘 𝗠𝗢𝗗𝗘𝗟 (𝗣𝗪𝗠) 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗥𝗘𝗧𝗔𝗜𝗟 𝗢𝗡 𝟭 𝗦𝗘𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟮
Last August, SRA announced its support for the implementation of the Progressive Wage Model (PWM) for retail to be implemented 1 September 2022. Today, SRA is pleased to confirm our support for the recommendations by the Tripartite Cluster for Retail Industry (TCR) for the successful implementation of the Progressive Wage Model (PWM) for the retail sector which will commence 1 September 2022.
The TCR report outline the wage and career progression as well as training for the PWM job roles of Retail Assistants/Senior Retail Assistants, Cashiers /Senior Cashiers and Assistant Retail Supervisors/Retail Supervisors with the key recommendations being :
✓ Mandatory compliance with baseline gross wages for the affected PWM job roles which will see to annual wage increases over 3 years from 1 September 2022 to 31 August 2025. The quantum increases are competitive to help attract more retail workers to the retail industry and yet remain sustainable for employers
✓ Equip retail workers in the specified Retail PWM job roles with minimum training requirements to ensure proficiency in their job roles
✓ Provide a clear career progression pathway to help retain existing workers and attract new workers in the retail sector
Government support by way of the Progressive Wage Credit Scheme (PWCS) to encourage retail businesses to structure annual incremental wage increases for its retail workforce and salary support to hire and reskill new workers (from different sectors) and upskill existing retail workers for new or advanced job roles under the Career Conversion Programme (CCP)
will help improve hiring and reduce turnover of retail talents.
SRA believe that the recommendations on the baseline gross wages for the affected frontline retail job roles , minimum skillsets requirements and career pathways are a step in the right direction to help rebuild retail as an attractive career choice. However, the acute manpower shortage is a critical issue facing most if not all retail businesses and if left unaddressed in the immediate term, Singapore will be hard pressed to retain its repute as a vibrant shopping & lifestyle destination with superior service delivery.